The Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif film has hit the screens.
Salman Khan has kept the Eid weekend to himself yet again, this time giving his fans, his next big-ticket film – Bharat. The Ali Abbas Zafar directorial is a remake of the 2014 South Korean movie, Ode to My Father, and also stars Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover, Jackie Shroff, Sonali Kulkarni, Disha Patani and Nora Fatehi among others.
Bharat happens to be Salman and Ali’s third collaboration after their previous blockbusters Sultan and Tiger Zinda Hai.
The film, which was previously signed by Priyanka Chopra, had Katrina coming onboard after the Quantico star walked out of the project owing to her wedding to Nick Jonas last year.
Speaking on Priyanka’s decision, Salman Khan had recently said in a group interview, “Priyanka was very keen on doing this film. We thought it was Katrina. But Katrina had just done Tiger Zinda Hai with me. (Also) Ali thought that ‘woh Hindustani role hai.’ (It is an Indian role) So, I said, ‘Kamaal hai yaar! Tumhari dost hai, itna kaam kiya hai. (She is your friend and has done so much work) You don’t have confidence that she will be able to pull off a Hindustani role’.”
“Then Ali told me that Priyanka had called him and said she wanted to do this movie. Then her marriage thing happened, so she choose to take a very brave, bold and amazing step. Usually, people would have fights in their houses. Boyfriends and girlfriends might fight. Female actors might leave husbands for Bharat (laughs). But she did the right thing. She got married because she wanted. And Katrina got what she wanted,” Salman added.
From the tumultuous scenes of bloodshed of the Partition, and the sundering of Bharat’s family in Lahore, to their arrival in a Delhi refugee camp, in search of a future, Bharat is sure-footed. After the half-way point, it meanders.
Also Read | Bharat movie review: More miss than hit
Katrina Kaif told indianexpress.com in an interview, "I think the most important thing for me is that I don’t have to be burdened by anything else. I can’t comment about how other people feel and see it. What I did for Bharat when I came onboard is to come absolutely without any baggage, or any experiences of any films we both have done before. All I wanted to do and have done is do as much justice to Kumud’s role as I can. So we did a lot of work on Kumud."
Also Read | Katrina Kaif: When I came onboard Bharat, I came with no baggage at all
In an interview with indianexpress.com, Sunil Grover said, "A film like Bharat is made in a huge magnitude with an intention to reach everyone. People feel commercial films are easier but it is so much more challenging. You need to make everyone interested in it at the same time, and also have an aspirational value. This is a beautiful story set in different eras with different looks and location. It will also keep you emotionally involved. Bharat is a film that is not made every day and I am fortunate I could be a part of it."
Also Read | Sunil Grover: A film like Bharat is not made every day
Preeti Simoes shared a picture with Bharat actor Sunil Grover and wrote along, "All the best..... To a man so unique...To a talent so rare... Aaj Bharat aur Bharat ke bahar #BHARAT release ho rahi hai..may it bring satisfaction to all dos associated wid dis film !!!! @whosunilgrover. Jao jaakar dekho !!!!!!!! #eidmubarak."
@HimeshMankad tweeted, "@BeingSalmanKhan and @aliabbaszafar at it yet again. A blend of humour, drama, romance, larger than life emotions and a bit of action with ample of subtle moments which you take home. #AliAbbasZafar comes up with a fresh take on #OdeToMyFather and succeeds! #Bharat."
"#Bharat ???? SUPERHIT. Performance's of salman and katrina is superb and the Chemistry between them is strong point of movie. Sunil and others are Good. Music is Average. Plot and story telling is amazing. Some emotional moments make my eyes full of tear. Full of humour. 300cr fix," tweeted @LaaluMakhija.
@alankar6427 tweeted, "#Bharat is classic. And one of the best movies of this Decade. #Katrinakaif truly Deserve National Award. #Salmankhan is the soul of the movie. #AliAbbasZafar Direction shines in all Department. Prediction : 415 crore net. Review : 5/5. Very Touchy. #BharatReview."
Subhash K Jha wrote on his Twitter account, "'#Bharat a lucidly agilely sketched portrait of a man and a nation ,completes the @BeingSalmanKhan trilogy of heartfelt performances after Tere Naam and Sultan. Stormy,dramatic and glamorous, Bharat is every bit a winner.' 4 stars
Journalist Joginder Tuteja tweeted, "#Bharat disappoints. The film was relying on a thin plot but this is where one expects the combo of Salman Khan and Ali Abbas Zafar to raise the bar. However, there are just a few scenes here or there that work. 2nd half is relatively better though - 1." He added, "#Bharat - The film is better than #Tubelight and #Race3 but that’s not saying much as there have been far better movies like #TigerZindaHai, #Sultan and #BajrangiBhaijaan. The film has some moments of emotions and humour but not much to entertain for those 3 hrs. Rating: ??"
Jacqueline Fernandez took to Twitter and wrote, "Good wishes and lotssss of love & luck to @BeingSalmanKhan and the entire team of Bharat!!!"
Neha Dhupia loved Salman Khan film Bharat. The actor posted on Twitter, "#Bharat n what’s not to love..the drama,the music,the thrill,the action,the romance,the emotion.. @aliabbaszafar u brought the magic out in everything n everyone ? especially @WhoSunilGrover @satishkaushik2 n #katrina n there is the tsunami of talent n stardom @BeingSalmanKhan"
Ex-Bigg Boss contestant Manveer Gurjar rooted for Bharat on Twitter. He wrote, "Je Baat Re Bharat ??
BLOCKBUSTER ! A Day, A Festival and A Man? #Bharat ... Whtelse u want on #Eid #Eidmubarak Go watch #BharatWithFamily Best wishes @BeingSalmanKhan"
Bharat actor Aasif Sheikh has asked his fans to watch the film with their families. He tweeted, "You must watch Bharat with your Family."
Actor-comedian Kapil Sharma took to Twitter to wish good luck to Bharat actor Sunil Grover. He wrote, "#Bharat is releasing worldwide today .. my best wishes to @BeingSalmanKhan bhai #katrinakaif @WhoSunilGrover paji @aliabbaszafar n the entire team of Bharat ? go n watch with ur family"
The Indian Express critic Shubhra Gupta called Bharat a missed opportunity. In her review, she mentioned, "It’s a pity that the director-star duo don’t take this as far as they could. They had a story which had the potential to become a solid reckoner of post-Independence nation-building, and how things rolled from then on, and a free hand to craft it. But the opportunity is squandered in unnecessary songs and dances, an aiming-for-cheap-laughs comic thread which involves making a stutterer the butt of jokes, and improbable situations: want to meet Hindi-film-song-loving-sea-pirates? Step right up."
Also read | Bharat movie review: A missed opportunity
Guru Randhawa urged fans to watch Salman Khan's film Bharat. He tweeted, "Wishing @BeingSalmanKhan sir, #katrinakaif and team all the best. Go book your tickets for #bharat and enjoy your Eid.
Happy Eid everyone"
Director Anees Bazmee tweeted a photo from the premiere of Bharat. Along with the picture, he wrote, "Last night at @Bharat_TheFilm Premiere caught on camera with my mouth wide open ;) Best of luck team ? @BeingSalmanKhan #KatrinaKaif @aliabbaszafar @DishPatani @itsBhushanKumar @TSeries"
Filmmaker Anand Kumar spoke about the euphoria around Salman Khan and his latest release Bharat. He wrote, "There is no comparison of the euphoria around a @BeingSalmanKhan film release with any other Star in the present era.
This is nothing less than a film festival celebrated on
#Eid and #Bharat together celebrate it ! #EidMubark bhai !"
Sophie Choudry called Bharat an emotional watch. She wrote, "Saw #Bharat yest. Emotional journey esp for those who’ve lived or heard partition stories from their families! I anyway love @BeingSalmanKhan ??? @WhoSunilGrover u were super; Aisi dosti sab ko mile! Katrina in a very diff role! @DishPatani Stunning? Good wishes to you all"
"After watching the film, you will fall in love with Salman Khan all over again," Mouni Roy said in a video shared by the film's official handle.
Newbie Ananya Panday seemed excited about Bharat. After watching the film, she said, "It was wonderful. It is a complete package. It had everything and is super entertaining. I just loved it."
Bobby Deol said Bharat is the apt title for the Salman Khan film, which has hit theaters today. He said, "It is a very nice emotional film. Bharat is the right title for it."
Karan Johar loved Salman Khan film Bharat. He said in a video, "Loved it. I think it is really going to be a mammoth hit."
Kriti Sanon was all praise for Bharat. The actor said, "It is quite entertaining and it takes you through a journey. It leaves you emotional."
"Please go watch #Bharat ! It’s a journey worth witnessing!" Anil Kapoor tweeted.
Salman Khan's close friend Suniel Shetty praised the actor's performance in Bharat. In a video shared by Bharat's official handle, the actor said the film features "Salman's best performance ever."
Television actor Karanvir Bohra wished Salman Khan all the luck for Bharat. On Instagram, he shared a photo from the screening of the film and wrote, "Wishing everyone Eid Mubarak and all the best for Bharat."
Actor Jaaved Jaaferi is all praise for Bharat, which has hit the screens today. He tweeted, "Watched #Bharat last night.. an emotional ride.. well written and directed by #AliAbbasZafar.. #SunilGrover was superb.. but it is a @BeingSalmanKhan film.. his best performance to date."
"Saw #Bharat. A heart warming story. Salman Khan in supreme form. Katrina Kaif ...one of her best performance. Sunil Grover and Satish Kaushik...played great support. Credit of course goes to Ali Abbas Zafar for making it happen. Congrats Atul Agnihotri and Bhushan Kumar," Shibasish Sarkar, Group CEO of Reliance Entertainment, said via Twitter.
Actor Vindu Dara Singh tweeted, "Aap sab ko #EidMubarak Lets enjoy EID pe!"
Film trade analyst Raj Bansal shared Bharat is performing as expected. He tweeted, "As expected @BeingSalmanKhan s #Bharat opens to packed houses with huge crowds all over."
Director duo Abbas Mustan took to Twitter and wished Salman Khan all the best for Bharat. The filmmakers tweeted, "Best wishes to team #Bharat for a super success"
Film trade analyst Sumit Kadel shared that Salman Khan's film Bharat will have a smashing opening. He tweeted, "#Bharat off to a BUMPER start at the box office across India. Film opened with 60-65% occupancy in early morning shows. Advance booking for today is HUGE, all set for record-breaking EID opening."
Sonali Kulkarni, who plays a pivotal role in Salman Khan's Bharat, was all praise for producer Atul Agnihotri. She took to Twitter and wrote, "Dear Atul...you have been such a fantastic pillar of support for our film.. one of the best producer and production house I have ever worked with ??? my prayers will always be with you and Alvira ??? God bless ? #BharatThisEid"
Film trade analyst Taran Adarsh gave four stars to the Salman Khan film Bharat. He mentioned in a tweet, "An emotional journey that wins you over... Salman is the lifeline. He’s exceptional... Katrina excels... Ali Abbas Zafar blends humour + emotions wonderfully... Slight trimming needed... Get ready for #Salmania."
Journalist Umair Sandhu took to Twitter and praised Salman Khan for his performance in Bharat. He wrote, "BIG SLAP FOR HATERS ! Saw #Bharat at UAE Censor Board ! It is Full on Engaging Film from start to end ! #SalmanKhan Stole the Show all the way in every Avatar ! Emotions + Romance + Action + Clap Worthy Dialogues = #Bharat SURE SHOT BLOCKBUSTER"
Wrestler-actor Sangram Singh tweeted, "Best wishes @BeingSalmanKhan bhai for #Bharat film. I am sure your hardwork will payoff"
Singer Anup Jalota wished all the best to Salman Khan. He wrote on Twitter, "#Bharat; Salman Bhai ki Eidi ka Andaaz! All the best for the release. It's an auspicious day tomorrow; may the movie break all records and make an unbeatable one!"
Trade analyst Komal Nahta tweeted, "Bharat is the biggest ever Bollywood release in UAE, Gulf - 121 locations. Biggest ever Bollywood release in Australia - 75 plus locations. Releasing across 70 countries in overseas and more than 1300 screens." He also shared that Bharat is Salman's first film to release in Saudi Arabia.
Actor Kiku Sharda, who is currently seen on The Kapil Sharma Show, wished good luck to Bharat actor Sunil Grover. The actor wrote on Twitter, "@WhoSunilGrover best wishes brother for #Bharat"
Amul Vikas Mohan took to Twitter and had good words to share about director Ali Abbas Zafar and his film Bharat. He wrote, "Director Ali Abaas Zafar has to be a bonafide advance machine.. three of the top seven films in all-time advance belong to him.... #Sultan #TigerZindaHai and now #Bharat!! Get ready for an earth-shattering opening day tomorrow for #Bharat folks... @BeingSalmanKhan"
Singer Palak Muchhal wrote on Twitter, "Just watched #Bharat! A journey of a man and nation together, releases today!!! Go watch it to experience a ride of emotions, fun and laughter! @BeingSalmanKhan #KatrinaKaif @aliabbaszafar @DishPatani @WhoSunilGrover @Norafatehi @bindasbhidu @itsBhushanKumar @SKFilmsOfficial"
Former Viacom18 COO Raj Nayak posted on Twitter, "Watched #bharat @BeingSalmanKhan is at his best. @KatrinaKaifFB steals the show with her brilliant performance. Beautifully directed by @aliabbaszafar. @WhoSunilGrover & @satishkaushik2 showcase how talented they are. Paisa Vasool BLOCKBUSTER ! @itsBhushanKumar #EidMubarak"